Display sign



April 18, 1950' A. H. LUITJENS ET AL DISPLAY SIGN Filed Dec. 31 1946 NMALE NDY 3 wow vim flL l///V [0/ TJE/VS Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES DISPLAY SIGN Alvin H. Luitjens, San Diego, and Justus S. Stoner, El Cajon, Calif.

Application December 31, 1946, Serial No. 719,568

1 Claim.

This invention relates to display signs and more particularly to a sign adapted to display a duplicate message, one message at one time and second message at another time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display sign which has two different messages thereon which can be alternately portrayed to the public and wherein the same message can be displayed from two directions at the same time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sign adapted to be adjusted to display diiierent messages for difierent adjustments wherein the adjustment is effected by the simple operation of rotating the sign bearing the message to be displayed and wherein there is contained within the sign devices for retaining the sign in its pivoted position automatically without the necessity of additional adjustment or tightening of elements.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in a sign adapted to be rotated to display different messages a weight device which will shift as the sign is rotated so as to maintain the sign in the vertical position against rotation while in use, and wherein these weight devices can be confined within the sign without being apparent to the person viewing the sign and wherein the same will not take up a great deal of space which would detract from the space required for th message.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the sign displaying one message suspended from below a main sign which may bear the name of the hotel or place being advertised.

Figures 2 and 3 and 3a are respectively cross sectional views taken on lines 2- 2, 3-3, 3a-3a, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof, the Figure 2 being taken through the weight device for retaining the sign in its inverted position and against its rotation while placed in that position.

Referring now to the figures, l represents a main sign which will designate the name of the hotel or if in the case of a tourist place the name of that place and from hinge brackets H and I2. The main sign It is carried upon some building or tourist place. From the brackets I I and I2 there is hingedly connected a suspended inverted and substantially V-shaped which there is depended hanger l3 including an apex and downwardlydiverging arms terminating in free ends. Such arms [4 and I5 have parallel bearings formed in the free ends thereof. Between the arms of each of these "hangers l3 there is pivotally connected a display sign indicated generally at it. There are two of these signs connected between the spaced fixtures. One sign is connected to the arms M of one fixture. A second display sign which may be indicated at I t is connected between the respective arms !5 of the respective hangers [3. The sign It is thus located in advance of the sign H3. These two signs are close enough together so that the message displayed on the one sign from its reverse side is covered up by the second displa Sign. Thus at one time only one message can be seen upon the respective signs. The message upon the reverse side of these respective signs will not be observed until the signs have been inverted in a manner to be described.

Each of the signs l6 and it comprises generally a board I! having rounded ends 58 and vertically extending slots i9 adjacent the rounded ends. To each of the rounded ends there is connected an axle or pivot pin 2i adapted to be journaled in the arms M and it of the suspension hanger l3. On the board N there is placed a sign plate 22 bearing a message to be displayed. This sign plate is located upon one side and bearing one message while upon the other side there is located a second sign plate 23 hearing an entirely difierent message. Each of the signs l6 and 56' have duplicate message plates disposed thereon. The message plate on the opposite side may be designated by the numeral 23. While the message plate 22 bears the message of No vacancy the message plate 23 may bear the message of Vacancy. The display signs are so rotated that the same message will appear when looking from opposite directions upon the signs. To change the message both signs are rotated through degrees.

In order to maintain the signs in their rotated positions and extending vertically at all times after they have been adjusted there is disposed in each of the slots 59 at the opposite ends of the board !1, a tube 25 of Dural, copper or other metal containing two or more ball bearings 26 or similar material which can flow from one end of the tube to the other and which will always be located below the axis of the pivot pins f2] whereby te give weight and balance to the sign in order that the correct message may always be maintained visible to the public.

While the arrangement has been shown utilizpension bracket by disconnecting the V-shaped.

member 21 and the other part can be permitted to be suspended straight downwardly to receive the single display sign. This singlerdisplay sign:

may have the usual Weight retaining device as. described above including a tube 25 and the ball bearings 26.

Having described the invention, we claim:

In a display sign for a pair of reversible sign boards adapted. to be mounted inv spaced. and aligned relation. so .as to present outer faces dis.- playing. like indicia in oppositedirections with eachsign. board concealing. indicia formed. on the, inner surfa'ceof 'theother sign board, the

Where a single sign is-being used 1 improvement comprising a pair of laterallyspaced and substantially inverted V-shaped hangers each including an apex and downwardlydiverging arms terminating in free ends, means pivotally connecting said free ends of each pair of arms to like ends of said sign boards, a bracket for each hanger, and axially aligned means pivotally connecting said apexes of said hangers to said brackets.

ALVIN H. LUITJENS.

JUSTUS S. STONER.

REFERENCES CITED The" following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number-'-' Name Date 503,552 Pfingst Aug. 15, 1893 803,950 Almy Nov. '7, 1905 892,449 Robert July 7.19.08 914,38? Crago Mar; 9, 1909 2343.041 Golddeke June 2, 1936- 23235157- Senesac June '29, 1943" 

